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What if seeing God wasn't only a promise for someday, but an invitation for right now? Jesus says, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." In this message from our Blessed? series, Pastor Brian Krum explores what it means to recognize God at work in your everyday life and how an undivided heart changes what you see. Purity of heart isn't about achieving a spotless spiritual record or being defined by your past. It's about the direction of your attention and devotion toward God. Jesus invites us to turn from the things competing for our hearts, turn toward Him, and recover the wonder of seeing God in the ordinary. Purity of heart is direction, not perfection. In this message, you'll discover: What Jesus really means by "pure in heart" Why purity isn't defined by your past or a spotless moral record What it means to see God in everyday life Why we become like what we give our attention to How purity of heart is focused, undivided devotion to God How competing desires can quietly become masters in our lives Why spiritual growth involves both turning from and turning to How spiritual pathways can help us become more aware of God's presence Why narrowing your focus on Jesus can actually help you see more, not less How to keep moving toward God even when you fail along the way 📖 Scripture: Matthew 5:8, John 4, Matthew 6:24, Matthew 6:33, 1 Corinthians 6 📍 Peoples Church 📅 September 20, 2026 🎤 Pastor Brian Krum, Discipleship Pastor Reflection Questions Where am I most aware of God? Is there something I need to surrender to God today? Is there something I've allowed to become more important than God? What appetite or desire in my life has begun to master me? What do I need to turn from, and what can I turn toward that helps me become more attentive to God? How can I intentionally create space this week to recognize God in the ordinary? Join us on Sundays, online or in person at Peoples Church 8:30AM | 10AM | 11:45AM 7172 N Cedar Ave Fresno, CA 93720 Links Website: https://www.peopleschurch.org Online: https://www.peopleschurch.org/online Next Steps: https://www.peopleschurch.org/next Giving: https://www.peopleschurch.org/give Events: https://www.peopleschurch.org/events Hashtags #Blessed #YouWillSeeGod #PureInHeart #Beatitudes #SermonOnTheMount #Matthew5 #SpiritualFormation #ChristianLiving #Jesus #peopleschurch

What if missions isn't something reserved for a select few Christians who feel called to go somewhere far away? In Episode 6 of Let’s Talk!, Billy sits down with Pastor Dale and missionary leader Joe Gordon to continue the conversation from Global Outreach weekend and explore what it means for ordinary followers of Jesus to participate in His mission. Joe shares how hearing about people who had never heard the gospel changed the direction of his life and eventually led him to serve across Eurasia, a region spanning 44 countries and more than two billion people. The conversation explores Jesus' command to make disciples, the impact missionaries have had throughout history, and what God is doing around the world today. Joe shares firsthand stories from places including Syria and Iran, talks about thousands of people groups that remain unreached or unengaged, and explains why the global Church is increasingly sending missionaries across borders. They also wrestle with what Christians in America can learn from believers who follow Jesus through persecution, hardship, and tremendous sacrifice. But missions isn't only about somewhere else. Prayer, giving, going, serving, and simply noticing the person God has placed next to you can all become part of living on mission. The question isn't whether God's mission includes us. It's what part He is asking us to play. CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION Use these questions with your small group, family, friends, or for personal reflection: - Joe said that Jesus assumes His disciples will be going, and the command is to make disciples “as you go.” Who has God already placed in your everyday life that you could intentionally love, serve, and point toward Jesus? - Joe said, “The goal of life on earth is not going to heaven. The goal of life on earth is bringing glory to the name of Jesus.” How would your priorities change if you genuinely lived with that perspective? - Hearing stories of believers following Jesus through persecution can challenge the way we view our own faith. What parts of following Jesus have become easy for you to take for granted? - Joe described prayer as “not an act of strength, but an admission of weakness.” What situation in your life or in the world feels beyond your ability to change? What would it look like to bring that honestly before God? - Missions can involve going across the world, but it can also begin with the person in the cubicle, classroom, neighborhood, or home next to us. Where might God be asking you to stop simply noticing a need and begin participating? Take a moment to pray: Ask God to open your eyes to what He is doing around you, give you His heart for people, and show you the part He is asking you to play. Be willing to listen if His answer requires you to go, give, pray, serve, or simply love the person already in front of you.

What does it really mean to be sent by Jesus? On this special GO Sunday, Global Outreach Partner Joe Gordon shares from John 20 and reminds us that God has always been a sending God. He sent Abraham. He sent Moses. He sent the prophets. He sent His Son. And now Jesus looks at ordinary, imperfect people like us and says: “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” We don't have to be the strongest, smartest, or most fearless people in the room. Like lambs staying close to their shepherd, our calling is to stay close to Jesus and faithfully participate in what He is doing. Whether it is across the hall, across the street, or across the world, every follower of Jesus has a part to play in taking the hope of the gospel to others. In this message, you'll discover: Why God has always been a sending God What Jesus' words in John 20 mean for every believer Why our weakness does not disqualify us from being used by God What it means to be sent “as lambs among wolves” Why staying close to the Shepherd matters more than our own strength How sharing the gospel can be as simple as telling someone what Jesus has done in your life Why prayer is participation in God's mission How generosity allows us to partner with believers around the world Why every disciple is called to preach, pray, and give How the whole church can participate in taking the whole gospel to the whole world 📖 Scripture: John 20:19-21, Luke 10:3, Matthew 9:37-38, Romans 15:30, 2 Corinthians 8:2-4 📍 Peoples Church 🌎 GO Sunday - Global Outreach 🎤 Joe Gordon, Global Outreach Partner 📅 September 13, 2026 Reflection Questions Where is Jesus sending you right now? Are you relying on your own strength, or staying close to Jesus as your Shepherd? Who in your everyday life needs to hear what Jesus has done in you? How can you participate more intentionally through prayer, generosity, or going? What is one step God may be asking you to take to help bring the hope of Jesus to someone else? Join us on Sundays, online or in person at Peoples Church 8:30AM | 10AM | 11:45AM 7172 N Cedar Ave Fresno, CA 93720 Links Website: https://www.peopleschurch.org Online: https://www.peopleschurch.org/online Next Steps: https://www.peopleschurch.org/next Giving: https://www.peopleschurch.org/give Hashtags #GOSunday #GlobalOutreach #Missions #Sent #John20 #GreatCommission #Jesus #ChristianLiving #PeoplesChurch #JoeGordon

What happens when we stop treating relationships like a scoreboard? In Episode 5 of Let’s Talk!, Dawson sits down with Pastor Dale and Discipleship Pastor Brian Krum to continue the conversation from Matthew 5:7: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” They explore why keeping score comes so naturally, how envy and comparison shape the way we see other people, and why mercy becomes much harder when someone has actually hurt us. The conversation also looks at the mercy of Jesus, the cry of Bartimaeus, resentment, forgiveness, trust, consequences, and healthy boundaries. Mercy does not mean pretending nothing happened. Forgiveness and trust are not the same thing, and reconciliation requires both people. One of the clearest takeaways from the episode: Forgiveness is a one-person job. Reconciliation is a two-person job. If you are carrying a grudge, keeping a record of wrongs, or struggling to show mercy to someone who has disappointed or hurt you, this conversation offers a practical path forward. Scripture: Matthew 5:7 Series: Blessed? CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION Use these questions with your small group, family, friends, or for personal reflection: - Where are you most tempted to keep score in your relationships, your work, social media, or somewhere else? How is that affecting you? - Pastor Dale asked, “What have I hired this grudge to do?” Is there a resentment you are holding onto? What has it promised to accomplish, and what has it actually produced? - How does remembering the mercy you have received from Jesus change the way you view someone who has hurt or disappointed you? - Is there someone you have started defining by your worst experience with them? What would it look like to see that person through a lens of mercy and compassion? - The episode reminds us that forgiveness is a one-person job, while reconciliation is a two-person job. Is God inviting you to forgive someone, rebuild trust, establish a healthy boundary, or take a step toward reconciliation? Take a moment to pray: Ask God to remind you of His mercy, reveal any resentment you are carrying, and show you one practical way to extend mercy this week.

What happens when we stop keeping score? We naturally remember offenses, compare what we've given with what we've received, and wait for things to finally feel fair. But Jesus introduces a radically different way to live: "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." In this message from our Blessed? series, Pastor Dale Oquist explores a mercy that goes far beyond simply accepting an apology. Biblical mercy is filled with forgiveness, compassion, and love. It refuses to forget people, give up on them, or treat them according to what they deserve. We don't repay Jesus for the mercy He has shown us. We experience His mercy more deeply as we begin giving it away. Mercy is what happens when we stop keeping score. In this message, you'll discover: - Why keeping score can quietly destroy our relationships - How mercy goes beyond forgiveness - What people were really asking when they cried, "Jesus, have mercy on me" - Why God's mercy never runs out - How mercy can turn strangers into family - Why giving mercy helps us understand how deeply God has forgiven us - What our unwillingness to show mercy can reveal about our own hearts - Why fairness can become a bottomless pit - How mercy can transform marriages and our closest relationships - What it means to become carriers of God's mercy in a wounded world 📖 Scripture: Matthew 5:1-10, Matthew 18, Mark 9, Mark 10, Matthew 15, Matthew 17, Psalm 23:6 📍 Peoples Church 📅 September 6, 2026 Reflection Questions - Who are you still keeping score with? - Is there someone you've given up on because of what they've done? - Where is God asking you to extend mercy before someone apologizes or makes things right? - How has showing mercy to someone else helped you understand God's mercy toward you? - What would change in your marriage, family, or closest relationships if you stopped trying to make the score even? Join us on Sundays, online or in person at Peoples Church 8:30AM | 10AM | 11:45AM 7172 N Cedar Ave Fresno, CA 93720 Links Website: https://www.peopleschurch.org Online: https://www.peopleschurch.org/online Next Steps: https://www.peopleschurch.org/next Giving: https://www.peopleschurch.org/give Hashtags #Blessed #TheMerciful #Beatitudes #SermonOnTheMount #Matthew5 #Mercy #Forgiveness #KingdomOfGod #ChristianLiving #PeoplesChurch

What do you do when your spiritual hunger starts to fade? In Episode 4 of Let’s Talk!, Billy sits down with Dawson and Olivia to continue the conversation from Matthew 5:6: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Together, they explore what Jesus means by righteousness, how spiritual hunger differs from simple unhappiness, and why genuine hunger for God should move us toward action. They also talk honestly about the things that slowly shape our desires, including screen time, work, comfort, social media, busyness, and the people we surround ourselves with. Olivia shares about seasons where grief, parenting, and life circumstances can make spiritual hunger feel distant, while Dawson challenges us not to let a lack of desire become an excuse for disobedience. Sometimes discipline has to carry us until desire catches back up. The episode closes with a practical challenge: ask God where He wants you to stop looking away, where He wants you to step in, and what He may be trying to reignite in your heart. Scripture: Matthew 5:6 Series: Blessed?

What are you hungry for? Jesus says, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." But this kind of hunger goes deeper than simply wanting to be a better person. It's a longing for more of God, for our lives to be made right, and for a broken world to look more like His Kingdom. In this message from our Blessed? series, Pastor Dawson Oquist explores what it means to live in the tension between the world as it is and the world as God intends it to be. We were made for eternity and perfect communion with God. Until His Kingdom comes in full, there will be an ache within us when we encounter sin, injustice, suffering, and brokenness. Jesus doesn't tell us to numb that hunger. He calls those who feel it blessed and invites us to let it move us closer to Him and into action. In this message, you'll discover: - What Jesus means by "hunger and thirst for righteousness" - Why righteousness includes both right relationship with God and a longing for things to be made right - What it means to live between the Kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of this world - How the world's values can slowly become our own if we're not paying attention - Why chasing comfort can sometimes lead us into apathy - How looking honestly at brokenness can soften our hearts and lead to real change - Why seeking God with our whole heart changes what we value - How to be the hands and feet of Jesus right where God has planted us 📖 Scripture: Matthew 5:6, Isaiah 64:6, Romans 12:2, Philippians 3:20, Jeremiah 29:13 Reflection Questions - What are you truly hungering and thirsting for right now? - Where have you become comfortable with something that should still break your heart? - Are there places where you've pursued peace but actually settled for apathy? - Which values are shaping you more right now: the values of God's Kingdom or the values of the world around you? - Where is God asking you to stop looking away and step in this week? Join us on Sundays, online or in person at Peoples Church 8:30AM | 10AM | 11:45AM 7172 N Cedar Ave Fresno, CA 93720 Links Website: https://www.peopleschurch.org Online: https://www.peopleschurch.org/online Next Steps: https://www.peopleschurch.org/next Giving: https://www.peopleschurch.org/give Hashtags #Blessed #HungerAndThirstForRighteousness #Beatitudes #SermonOnTheMount #Matthew5 #KingdomOfGod #Righteousness #ChristianLiving #PeoplesChurch

What does Jesus really mean when He says, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth”? In Episode 3 of Let’s Talk!, Dawson sits down with Pastor Dale and Young Adults Pastor Derrick Alvarez to continue the conversation from Matthew 5:5. Together, they explore why meekness isn’t weakness, what it means to be seen by God when the world considers you unimportant, and how failure can deepen our dependence on Jesus. Derrick shares how dyslexia, failure, and seasons of feeling “not good enough” have shaped his faith and ministry, while Pastor Dale talks about separating identity from success, leadership, and the praise of others. They also discuss ambition, calling, pride, comparison, and why your platform or profession doesn’t determine the importance of what God has called you to do. Whether you’re leading a church, running a business, raising a family, teaching, serving coffee, or working with your hands, your calling can become worship when it is surrendered to Jesus. Scripture: Matthew 5:5 Series: Blessed?

What does Jesus mean when He says, "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth"? Meekness is often mistaken for weakness, but Jesus presents it as something far stronger. In week three of our Blessed? series, Pastor Brad Liebe unpacks the Beatitude of meekness and shows how biblical gentleness is not passivity, personality, or lack of strength. It is strength under control, shaped by the Holy Spirit and surrendered to the will of God. Following Jesus means becoming less driven by our own reactions, preferences, and need for control, and more willing to trust that God's ways are better than ours. The question is not whether we have strength. The question is whether we will surrender that strength to God. In this message, you'll discover: What Jesus means by "meek" and why gentleness is central to the Christian life Why meekness is not the same as weakness How gentleness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, not simply a personality trait Why becoming more like Jesus requires less of us and more of Him What "strength under control" looks like in everyday life Why meekness requires faith that God's plan is better than our own How surrendering control allows God to do what only He can do What Jesus means when He promises that the meek will "inherit the earth" 📖 Scripture: Matthew 5:1-5, Matthew 11:29, Romans 12:3, Proverbs 16:32, Ephesians 1:11 📍 Peoples Church 📅 August 23, 2026 Reflection Questions Where in your life do you tend to confuse strength with the need to control the outcome? Is there an area where the Holy Spirit is asking you to respond with gentleness instead of reacting from your own strength? What would it look like to trust God's plan enough to "hand Him the keys" instead of trying to stay in control? As you grow in your relationship with Jesus, are you becoming more gentle and more like Him? Join us on Sundays, online or in person at Peoples Church 8:30AM | 10AM | 11:45AM 7172 N Cedar Ave Fresno, CA 93720 Links Website: https://www.peopleschurch.org Online: https://www.peopleschurch.org/online Next Steps: https://www.peopleschurch.org/next Giving: https://www.peopleschurch.org/give Hashtags #Blessed #BlessedAreTheMeek #Beatitudes #SermonOnTheMount #Matthew5 #Meekness #Gentleness #HolySpirit #ChristianLiving #PeoplesChurch

What does Jesus mean when He says, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted”? Billy sits down with Pastor Dale and Olivia to discuss grief, loss, disappointment, and where we look for comfort when life gets heavy. They explore God’s presence in painful seasons, the importance of biblical community, and how to support someone who is grieving without needing to have all the right words. Pastor Dale shares how the presence of friends brought comfort after losing his parents, while Olivia opens up about walking through miscarriage and how God has used that experience to help her connect with others. If you’re experiencing grief, mourning, or disappointment, this conversation is a reminder that you don’t have to walk through it alone. Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is simply show up. Scripture: Matthew 5:4 Series: Blessed? People’s Church | Fresno, California

What does Jesus mean when He says, “Blessed are those who mourn”? Pain, loss, sorrow, and heartbreak are part of the human experience. Yet in the second Beatitude, Jesus makes a surprising promise: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” In week two of our Blessed? series, Pastor Dale Oquist continues through the Beatitudes and explores a Kingdom that doesn't ask us to hide our pain or pretend everything is fine. Jesus meets us in our mourning and invites us to bring our sorrow honestly before God. The blessing isn't found in the pain itself. The blessing is found in the God who meets us in our mourning. In this message, you'll discover: Why mourning is not a weakness or a virtue we need to pursue The danger of suppressing sorrow and pretending we're "fine" Why grief and tears can be gifts from God How biblical mourning extends beyond our own pain to the brokenness around us What suffering reveals about the heart of God Why grief invites God's presence The difference between suppressing our sorrow and surrendering it to God How God's comfort gives us both present strength and future hope 📖 Scripture: Matthew 5:1-10, Psalm 55:4-8, Genesis 6:6, Psalm 34:18, Revelation 21 📍 Peoples Church 📅 August 16, 2026 Reflection Questions: Is there sorrow or grief in your life that you've been suppressing instead of bringing honestly before God? Where have you been saying "I'm fine" when you're actually hurting? What brokenness in the world around you breaks your heart, and how might that reflect the heart of God? What would it look like to surrender your sorrow to God and allow Him to meet you in it? Join us on Sundays, online or in person at Peoples Church 8:30AM | 10AM | 11:45AM 7172 N Cedar Ave Fresno, CA 93720 Links: Website: https://www.peopleschurch.org Online: https://www.peopleschurch.org/online Next Steps: https://www.peopleschurch.org/next Giving: https://www.peopleschurch.org/give Hashtags: #Blessed #ThoseWhoMourn #Beatitudes #SermonOnTheMount #Matthew5 #Grief #Hope #KingdomOfGod #ChristianLiving #PeoplesChurch

Words have more power than we often realize. In the first episode of Let’s Talk, Pastors Billy, Dale, and Dawson continue the conversation from James 3 and explore how the words we speak, and the words we receive, can shape the direction of our lives. Pastor Dale shares how unexpected conversations helped confirm God’s call to Fresno, Dawson reflects on a simple conversation that changed the direction of his college experience, and the conversation turns to gossip, negative reports, daily decisions, and the importance of allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our words. The takeaway is simple: small things are big things. Our words can bring life, shape culture, and influence people in ways we may never fully see. Scripture: James 3:1-12 Series: Small Things Make a Big Difference

What does it really mean to be blessed? As we begin our new series, Blessed?, Pastor Dale Oquist walks through the opening of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and explores one of His most surprising statements: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." The Beatitudes turn our understanding of blessing upside down. Jesus isn't giving commands or describing virtues to achieve. He's extending an invitation and making a promise to those who feel broken, overlooked, weary, and in need of hope. The Kingdom of God isn't reserved for those who have it all together. It's for those who know they don't. In this message, you'll discover: - Why the Beatitudes are an invitation, not a list of commands - What Jesus meant by "poor in spirit" - How God's Kingdom is radically different from the values of our culture - Why brokenness becomes the doorway into God's Kingdom - How hope is found in God's promises, even during life's hardest seasons - Why your past doesn't have to determine your future - How Jesus welcomes the overlooked, hurting, and weary into His Kingdom 📖 Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, Matthew 4:23-25, Psalm 112:6-7 📍 Peoples Church 📅 August 9, 2026 Reflection Questions: What does being "poor in spirit" look like in your life today? Are you trying to offer God your strengths instead of your need for Him? Is your past shaping the way you see your future, or are you allowing God's promises to define your path? Where is Jesus inviting you to experience His Kingdom in the middle of your current circumstances? Join us in person or online Sundays: 8:30 AM | 10:00 AM | 11:45 AM 7172 N Cedar Ave Fresno, CA 93720 Links Website: https://www.peopleschurch.org Watch Online: https://www.peopleschurch.org/online Next Steps: https://www.peopleschurch.org/next Giving: https://www.peopleschurch.org/give

Can your words change the direction of your life? Continuing through James 3, Pastor Dale Oquist explores the disproportionate power of the tongue. Our words can build faith, bring healing, and point people toward God, but they can also spread doubt, damage relationships, and redirect the lives of others. God takes our words more seriously than we often do. What we speak and what we choose to receive can become either a tool of heaven or a tool of hell. This message explores: How words determine the direction of a life Why negative reports can produce fear and doubt The destructive power of gossip and careless speech Why we should not receive gossip as truth How our words reveal the condition of our hearts The importance of pausing, pondering, praying, and protecting How to use our words to bring life instead of death 📖 Scripture: James 3:1-12, James 1:26, Proverbs 6:16-19, Proverbs 16:23-24, Numbers 13:30-14:10, Proverbs 4:23, Psalm 19:14 📍 Peoples Church 📅 July 26, 2026 Reflection Questions What direction are your words creating in your life and relationships? Have you allowed a negative report to become louder than what God has said? Are you speaking about concerns to people who can actually help, or are you spreading gossip? Where do you need the Holy Spirit to bring greater discipline to your words? Join us in person or online Sundays: 8:30AM | 10AM | 11:45AM 7172 N Cedar Ave Fresno, CA 93720 Website: peopleschurch.org Watch Online: peopleschurch.org/online Next Steps: peopleschurch.org/next Give: peopleschurch.org/give #SmallThingsMakeABigDifference #TheTongue #James3 #WordsMatter #ChristianLiving #PeoplesChurch #PastorDaleOquist